Labour Party leader Ivana Bacik has today (Wednesday, 13th July) called on the Government to urgently proceed with the necessary preparatory work, including the setting of a provisional polling date in 2023, for a referendum to remove outdated gender stereotypes from the Constitution. The call comes following the publication today of the report of the…

With the Cabinet due to approve a long term increase in Defence Forces spending, Labour Party spokesperson on Defence, Senator Mark Wall, said that delivery of better pay and conditions will be essential if ambitious recruitment targets are to be met. Senator Wall said: “To implement key recommendations from the report of the Commission on…

Services not adequate when more than 200 women had to travel for abortion care in 2021 Labour leader Ivana Bacik has called for a full audit of abortion services across the country following the publication of the Unplanned Pregnancy and Abortion Care (UnPAC) study conducted by Trinity College Dublin. Responding to the lack of services…

Emergency sitting of Dáil and Seanad needed to close RPZ loophole As media reports emerge of cuckoo funds using the legislative loophole in RPZ laws to charge astronomical rents, Labour housing spokesperson Rebecca Moynihan has called on government to facilitate a special sitting of the Dáil and Seanad to close the loophole. Renters are in…

Labour employment and workers’ rights spokesperson Marie Sherlock insisted that Government must get serious about strengthening remote work legislation, including the right to flexible work from the start of employment, or risk undoing the gains made by working people throughout the pandemic. Speaking following the publication of the Joint Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment’s…

Labour arts and media spokesperson Marie Sherlock said the time has come to amplify the voices of women and people of colour on our radio stations. Launching her Diversity in Broadcasting Bill today, Senator Sherlock said making it onto a playlist can be a life changing experience for artists, however there are many great female…

Labour housing spokesperson Rebecca Moynihan has expressed concern at the Shared Equity Scheme announced by government today. Calling it a boon for developers, Senator Moynihan said international experience shows that schemes such as this have the impact of inflating house prices, locking more people out of home ownership. Senator Moynihan said: “The Shared Equity Scheme…

Labour health and disability spokesperson Duncan Smith has described the ongoing delay in paying frontline workers a Covid-19 Pandemic Bonus Payment as utterly ludicrous. Deputy Smith said: “Over two years after a bonus was first proposed by the Labour Part, and over six months after it was agreed by Government, the fact that tens of…